Contemporary Bulgarian stereotypes

Bulgaria: Photo of Young and Beautiful Bulgarian Primary School Teacher Goes Viral

What are the major stereotypes people have about Bulgaria and to what extent are they true? Well, that depends on the one that is asked. There is a big difference if you would ask someone from another Balkan nation (most tend to be negative for historical reasons) or someone from a non-Balkan nation. Whenever I say to some German that I come from Bulgaria, they nod as if they know where my country is, but I know well that they don’t. One German girl once asked me on one occassion: “Where did you come from? Romania?”, then I said: “No, Bulgaria.” “Oh well, it is the same anyway”. Well, we are that same as Germans are to Finnish… Sadly most of the people don’t know anything about the world east of the Germany – Austria – Italy line. Which shows how good their geography curriculum is, but that’s a whole new topic.

Bulgaria: Photo of Young and Beautiful Bulgarian Primary School Teacher Goes Viral

If some people know anything about Bulgaria, they would most probably associate it with…brace yourselfs, prostitution. Sadly, it is true that Bulgarian nationals go west to work as prostitutes, but they are no Bulgarians in the ethnic meaning of the word – merely gypsies.

Contemporary Bulgarian stereotypes

Others assossiate us with this macho type men, which is not nearly close, because we are very open to women having equal rights and opportunities as men.